HON. MESHACK S. RATCLIFF,
A farmer of Washington county, was born in Tazewell county, Virginia,
March 20, 1834. He was married in that county, June 5, 1850,
to Lucinda Ratcliff of Tazewell county. The fruit of the union is twelve
children: Shadrack W., John R., Lydia Jane (now deceased), Mary
Elizabeth, James Muncy, George W., Maggie Z. (deceased), Augustus
Floyd, Eliza R., Sylvester, Vadney V., Louisa M. Richard Ratcliff of
Tazewell county, son of Richard Ratcliff of Montgomery county, was
the father of Meshack S. His mother is Lydia, daughter of John Ratcliff
of Jackson county, Missouri, in which county he died. Lucinda,
wife of Mr. Ratcliff, is a daughter of Shadrack Ratcliff, of Tazewell
county, whose father, John Ratcliff, died in Jackson county, Missouri.
Her mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Brooks Matnet, of Tazewell
county.
Mr. Ratcliff was a resident of Buchanan county previous to his coming
to Washington county, and has worthily filled a number of public
offices. He represented Buchanan and Wise counties in the Virginia
legislature; was two years postmaster in Buchanan county, and two
years commissioner of revenue in that county. In 1861 he went into
service, captain Company G, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, and so served
through the war. His brother Abednego served in the same company;
his brother John S. was captain Company I, same regiment, was captured
in 1863, at Cynthiana, Kentucky, and held at Johnsons Island,
Lake Erie, till June 27, 1865. Four brothers of Mrs. Ratcliff were in
service, one, John M., lieutenant Company G, 10th Kentucky Cavalry,
wounded and captured at Cynthiana, Kentucky, in 1863, held at Johnsons
Island till June, 1865, the other three served in Derrick's battalion
of Virginia Infantry. Five cousins bearing the name of Ratcliff were
in service, two of them in the 10th Kentucky Cavalry; two commanding
companies, rank of captain.
